Chapter Twenty One
Bella
Aro really thought I was going to cave in to his demands, how deluded could one man be? I smiled at him and Caius who was smirking at his back. He at least knew I was up to something.
"Aro, in exchange for the safe release and return of our friends and family I will give an undertaking to let you live and Volterra remain standing."
He didn't answer immediately and the look on his face told the story of the shock working its way through his brain. Then he coughed and laughed,
"Very good Bella. You are learning how to use threats. There's just one problem with yours my dear and that is, you don't have the weapons to make good on them".
Caius shook his head in disbelief at Aro and he looked at me quite deliberately and nodded, a silent agreement. He was happy to stand back and let me take on Aro, ready to step into his shoes if I succeeded.
"Oh Aro. I learned at the feet of the master. Never threaten unless you are prepared to follow through."
"The master?"
"My mate, Major Whitlock."
His eyes narrowed as he tried to see where I was going with this.
"Do you really think you could destroy me? And Volterra? Against my Guard?"
"Your Guard doesn't exist here Aro, not any longer, some are dead, some are in Mexico, and others would be happy to serve a new Master. I'm willing to bet I could take Volterra for my own if I wanted it. Are you as convinced you can beat me in a fight?"
Caius
Bella was playing the game beautifully and I felt Aro's concern at her words. She was right of course, the Volturi Guard was vastly depleted from the fighting with the Major and those he'd lent to Maria in Mexico. I knew he couldn't take Bella out, not with her shield. The question was, could she take him? Had she found a way to use this shield as an offensive weapon? Or was she bluffing and was he prepared to call that bluff? I waited eager for his next move and as I looked round I saw that the few members of the Guard with the exception of Felix had moved away from him, as if unwilling to back a possibly obsolete runner. Felix was standing close to his master as usual, close as Renata who had backed up a little to give Aro room to pace. He was in his fortress, who would even think of attacking him here? I'd often thought him arrogant in his assumption of safety in Volterra and now I was sure of it. Then he spoke again,
"Bella. It saddens me that you feel threats are necessary. I only act for the goods of our kind."
"No Aro. You only act for your own good and this time it's not working. You want me as a weapon in your arsenal and it's not going to happen. You should really accept that before things escalate to a point where it's too late to back down"
"Back down Bella? I never back down."
"Pity. I thought you might feel that way. I would have liked to have known you when you were younger and less arrogant and power-hungry. I like to think you were a powerful and ultimately good leader in the past."
"Bella, insults do not hurt me. The bottom line remains the same. You work for me here and your family and friends live. Emily Uley goes home and everyone is happy. What do you see as the problem with that outcome? Surely it's what we have all been working towards."
"There's a slight difference Aro. I don't threaten idly, I don't lie, and I don't change the goals part way through. You do all these and it makes me understand just how untrustworthy you are, not a good thing in a leader as powerful as you"
"Well Bella, its been a pleasure talking to you but I am rather busy at the moment so unless you are ready to deal I'm afraid..."
Bella
I'd given him all the chances he was going to get and Caius braced himself knowing I was about to act although he had no idea what that might entail.
"I'm sorry Aro. I tried to talk to you, I tried to persuade you to deal, I even threatened you. Now as I was taught I have to act on my threats or lose respect. Felix"
He was ready and in position well ahead of time and as I finished speaking and shielded Aro and he from outside interference he took Aro's head in his huge hands and twisted violently. There was a dreadful crunching sound and as I dropped the shield momentarily Felix threw it to me. The headless body fell to the floor and Caius stood up smiling and clapping his hands,
"Bravo Bella. Well played and very fairly I must admit."
"I'm glad you enjoyed my object lesson. This..."
I held up Aro's head, the eyes flickering wildly as Felix took out Renata too.
"Creates a vacancy in the Volturi for a new leader."
"A position I am assuming you are not willing to take Bella?"
"Well not in the short-term Caius, no, but I know of someone who would very much like the position."
Caius looked around and his eyes stopped on Felix as he dragged the two bodies to the centre of the Chamber and took out his lighter, looking at me and ignoring Caius. I nodded then turned back to the remaining Volturi brother as the flames shot up.
"No Caius. Felix isn't interested in leadership although I would have backed him if he had wanted the position. I was thinking of …...perhaps …...you or …...Alec."
"Alec? He's a mere child."
"Perhaps but the crown will go to the person who is able to meet my demands. Are you that person? Can you order Maria and The Others? Or must I look elsewhere?"
I turned once more and threw the head of the late Volturi leader onto the flaming bodies, watching as it was consumed leaving only a pile of ashes and a purple haze in the room. Felix looked at me and smiled,
"Well done Little Bird, Annie would be proud of you and so would The Major."